Chapter 82

When I arrived at Marié's mansion, I saw an unbelievable scene.

"What is this? Hey, what is this!?"

It was Carla who called out to me, dumbfounded.

She looked as if she had given up.

"They have returned."

"I know that! What I'm asking about is this situation!"

The entrance of the mansion was in a state that defied description.

This would be a problem for Luxion and Claire too.

Jilc, wearing a custom-made high-end suit, was piling up a large amount of luggage in the mansion's garden.

The leather travel bags contained tea sets and dishes, and there were also paintings and vases placed there.

It looked like enough to open a store.

However, they all appeared to be worn-out and fake-looking art pieces.

"Marié, I have gathered this much art for you. Will you let me into the mansion? No—please let me stand by your side."

Marié remained silent.

I could only see her back.

I couldn't tell what expression she had.

But—she hadn't moved at all since a while ago.

Carla was hiding her face with both hands and shaking her head.

"Jilc, I heard he made a fortune by buying and selling antiques."

"That guy! The blind Jilc got into antiques!? And he made a fortune!!"

I couldn't believe it. —That blind Jilc succeeded?

Ange and Rivia, who had come with me, were speechless.

They just watched the scene.

It wasn't just Jilc who was strange.

All four—everyone who had returned—were strange.

Brad, in a white suit, took off his hat, and a bouquet of flowers appeared from it.

Was it a mimicry of a magic trick?

Magic could do much more impressive things.

"Marie, I have prepared a bouquet of flowers for you. I want you to accept it. And I want you to recognize that I am the one who deserves to stand by your side!"

Behind Brad, there were flowers everywhere.

There were large floral decorations for celebrations.

—I could concede this much, even if I took a hundred steps back.

They were told to earn money, but bringing fake art pieces and bouquets made me think they were crazy.

But, taking a hundred steps back, it could be considered an attempt to impress Marié.

"How much did these guys earn, anyway?"

I had underestimated them.

These guys—originally had high potential.

If they were serious, they could earn money.

Kyle, who was holding his face with his right hand and shoulders slumped, answered me.

"Almost nothing is left, apparently."

"Huh? No, they look like they have a lot of money, so that can't be true."

"Apparently, they poured almost everything into these."

I had underestimated them.

These guys were even more foolish than I imagined.

I held back my tears and looked at the next two.

Honestly, I couldn't understand these two at all.

"Yosh! Yosh! Yosh!"

A group of men, dressed in loincloths and twisted headbands, which seemed to clash with the Western setting, were carrying a mikoshi (portable shrine).

Two mikoshi were prepared.

On top of them were Greg and Chris, dressed in loincloths, twisted headbands, and happi coats.

"Marie, we have polished ourselves as men."

Their skin looked strangely tanned.

Their bodies, which had been significantly toned, were showing off their muscles.

"Look at this magnificent mikoshi! We prepared it in a hurry."

The two were full of confidence.

You guys should explain what happened first!

What could have happened that made you think preparing a mikoshi would please Marié?

I wanted them to at least explain the process clearly.

But, should I point out that it's strange to have a mikoshi here in the first place?

Wait, everything is so strange that I don't know what to do anymore.

"Mr. Leon, what's going on here?"

Rivia asked me.

"Sorry. I don't know either. Kyle, explain it."

Kyle shook his head.

"How could I know what they are thinking? If I knew, it would be abnormal. Or, I don't want to understand."

The four, who were even called incomprehensible by the slightly sarcastic half-elf Kyle, made Rivia slightly lower her head.

"This makes me wonder what happened to Prince Julius."

Looking at Ange,

"---These guys, weren't they once young talents expected in the kingdom? Ah, wait, is my memory wrong? Yes, that's it. That must be it!"

He seemed confused.

It looked like he was trying to understand them, so I advised him to give up.

"Ange, don't think too much. They are beyond help."

"Leon, you won't end up like them, right? Right!?"

When I nodded, Carla shouted.

"Ah, the prince is here!"

Everyone's gaze focused on the gate, where Julius stood in slightly worn-out clothes.

He didn't have a lot of luggage, nor did he seem to have prepared flowers.

He was alone, not with any strange group.

In his hand, he was holding a brown envelope tightly.

Julius was surprised to see the four.

"Everyone, you're amazing."

Jilc, looking at Julius's attire, had a slightly sad expression.

"Your Highness, you must have had a hard time. But, what's with that outfit?"

Compared to the four, who were dressed up, Julius looked like an ordinary person.

He seemed tired, as if he had been working until recently.

Brad sighed.

"I wanted to compete with five of us. But, for Your Highness to end up like a retiree—this is disappointing."

They probably thought they couldn't compete with him.

Indeed, it seemed Julius earned the least.

Julius lowered his head.

Chris, who had gotten off the mikoshi, looked at Julius with regret.

"Your Highness, is your seriousness only this much!?"

Greg took off his happi coat and draped it over his shoulder, showing off his physique.

"Brad is right. We wanted to compete with five of us. Julius—your appearance like this, it's not a fair competition."

Julius raised his head and spoke.

"I'm sorry. But, I worked as hard as I could. There's no lie in that."

With a face that showed no shame, Julius spoke about himself.

"I worked at a food stall. I, who had no experience in serious cooking, faced new challenges every day. I worked as a helper until I was exhausted. And—this is all I managed to earn."

The brown envelope contained Julius's entire fortune.

It wasn't a large sum.

Jilc was surprised.

"Is that all you earned!?"

He was genuinely shocked.

He probably thought Julius could earn more.

"I think Julius is right, and the others are just mistaken. There's no way they could earn so much."

Carla nodded, and Rivia spoke at the same time.

"I feel the same way—"

"Or, it's strange that they spent all the money they earned—"

The two looked at each other and then turned away awkwardly.

These two had a history, so there was some distance between them.

Julius continued.

"I tried my best. But, I only managed to earn this much. That's why I realized. Marie, I didn't know the value of money. Even though I only earned this much, I would be happy if you let me into the mansion. And I—I will master skewers someday. I want Marie to taste my skewers someday."

The four looked disappointed.

While Carla and Kyle watched Marié anxiously, the new recruit Eriq spoke up.

"Isn't that a bit too presumptuous? Marie doesn't match with such men. She deserves someone better."

"Hey, you've changed a lot. What? Are you saying I'm a better match?"

Eriq was a guy who used to be violent towards women.

Why do such guys keep coming to Marie?

I was considering whether to exclude him when,

"I'm not that arrogant. I can't say I'm the best. I want to be the best for Marie someday—but I want her to be even happier."

"O-oh."

It was an unexpected response, so I was at a loss.

Then, Marié started walking slowly.

To whom was she going?

The four straightened their backs, waiting for her to come to them—but she passed by them and grabbed Julius's hand with both of hers.

She held the hand that was holding the brown envelope, and I couldn't help but feel she had ulterior motives.

"Julius, I believed you would understand."

"Marie!"

Julius was crying with joy, but I knew.

"He definitely lied. I didn't believe any of the five, but I chose the best of the worst, Julius. Saying she believed him is a lie."

When I complained, Ange, with a blank expression, agreed.

"You're right."

Rivia was troubled.

"Ange, well, that—"

"Don't worry. I don't feel jealous or anything towards the prince or Marie. But—my head hurts."

Julius had definitely grown.

However, Ange was holding his head.

It's not that Julius was wrong. But, as a former crown prince, is this really okay?

Wanting to master skewers—where are you heading, man?

Well, the problem is the four.

"Wait, Miss Marié!"

Jilc protested to Marié, who had chosen Julius.

"Shouldn't the one who earned the most be by your side?"

"I never said that. I just asked who would earn the most. Besides, using the money you earned for yourself is out of the question."

"Such a thing!"

Jilc and the others collapsed on the spot.

Rivia looked at the four with a cold eye.

"I guess—I'm not good enough either, right?"

Good for you.

Thanks to Marié taking them, Rivia didn't have to deal with them. Or, did they become wrecks because Marié took them?

Such four depressed guys.

But, Chris stood up.

"—Your Highness, I admit defeat."

"Chris."

"We didn't consider Marie's feelings. Your Highness understood Marie the most. —I admit this defeat for now."

When will these guys wake up?

Greg sat cross-legged on the ground.

"We lost. We lost! Julius, we lost. But, I'll surpass you someday and become the best for Marie. If you let your guard down, Marie's side will be mine."

"Greg—ah, I understand."

Brad put on his hat, hiding his face.

"It's pitiful. Not realizing Marie's feelings—Your Highness, I'll temporarily entrust Marie's side to you."

"Brad—do you agree too?"

What is this? Can't anyone complain to Marie?

"Of course. Jilc, you should agree too?"

Jilc slowly stood up and smiled sadly.

"I thought I had surpassed Your Highness. But, Your Highness is still my goal. Your Highness, even though I'm like this, can we have another competition?"

"Thank you, Jilc."

Eriq sniffed.

"Ke, you guys are fools. Recognizing your rivals, that's not something ordinary people can do."

—What kind of character is this guy aiming for?

Rivia grabbed my shirt sleeve with her finger.

"Mr. Leon, it's better to explain the situation to everyone. They probably don't know anything."

"You're right."

Chris, who had been listening to our conversation, spoke up.

"What, did something happen while we were gone?"

"Yeah, actually, I lost to a scumbag named Serge from the Republic. Noel was taken. Thanks to that, the nobles of the Republic want to take revenge on me."

"What? That's tough. If there's anything I can do, let me know. I owe you—what?"

Chris, with his glasses tilted, ran towards me.

Stop. I don't want to be approached by a nearly naked man!

When I tried to escape, my shoulders were grabbed and I was shaken violently.

"O-oh, what do you mean you lost! Baltofalt, is it some kind of strategy? There's no way you could lose!"

As Chris was making a fuss, Julius and the others looked at me.

"Baltofalt lost? Hey, who's the next victim?"

"Are you going to extort more compensation from the Republic? You're as ruthless as ever."

"You're definitely a devil. —Wait, you really lost? Not a bluff or a strategy?"

"Baltofalt, who did you lose to! Tell me, tell me!"

Julius thought I was setting up another scheme, and Jilc thought I was trying to make money.

Brad called me a devil, and Greg approached to find out who I had lost to.

Why do I have to be approached by a nearly naked man?

Chris and Greg shook me.

"Be clear, Baltofalt!"

"I'm the one who will defeat you! I won't allow you to lose to anyone else!"

—Stop. Don't shake me anymore!

Ange and Rivia came to my rescue.

"Let go of Leon!"

"What are you doing to Mr. Leon!"

Chris and Greg retorted to the two.

These guys are not nice to women other than Marié.

"This is our problem!"

"That's right. Don't interfere in men's problems! You agree, right, Baltofalt!"

Don't ask me for agreement.

More importantly—these guys are more intense than before!